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HARPER

“ A re you sure about this Harp? I mean you, don’t have to move out completely, just enough to make him think you did,” Aster joked as we sat on the floor in my room with empty boxes surrounding us. I figured it was only fair I give her one night, just her and I before I was moved in with Jasper. We made a pact to have a girl’s night at least once a month, and I intend to keep that promise. I looked forward to the nights of laughter and cheap wine with my best friend.

Aster was unhappy when I told her of my plans to move in with Jasper, and honestly, I felt guilty. I always thought she‘d be the first to move in with some guy. Things have changed so much in the last couple of months for me, it’s like a whole new life. A fresh start. One I never imagined for myself.

“Are you going to be okay, Aster?”We’ve never lived apart since I was sixteen. We’ve been like sisters. The reality is that she or I would be moving out eventually, I just never expected it to be me, and I don’t think she did either.

“I’m gonna be fine, you just make sure that G od of a man, you love so much knows that by having you move in, it automatically volunteers his home and amenities, to me, for my personal use, anytime,” she tried her best at an evil laugh, failing miserably.

“No, but seriously that rooftop pool is amazing, and his gym is far fancier than the one here,” She added. “Plus, he owes me now. If I hadn’t taken you to afterglow that night…” her voice trailed off as if a light popped on in her head. “Wait a minute. Harp is he your knight in shining armor?” She asked scooting forward, totally invested now.

“Actually. Yes.” I told her. Her eyes widened with intrigue. “No way!”

I laughed because her reaction mirrored mine when I found the emails on his computer.

“Damn girl, so he’s been obsessed since like, day one.” She said nodding her head. “You didn’t even have to give him the goods before he was ready to lock you up in his castle, I mean penthouse.” She snorted, at her own joke.

Aster didn’t know we had slept together yet. I’m not sure why I chose to keep that from her. She hadn’t pressed me about it yet, so it still felt private between Jasper and me. I wanted to hold on to that for a while. I know I wasn’t a virgin before him because of what happened to me, but oddly in my mind, I was.

Giving him my body and trusting him in such an intimate way felt special. It was special. It was ours.

“Speaking of you potentially overstaying your welcome. Jasper and I wanted to start a weekly tradition kind of thing. Family dinner each Sunday. You, Me, Jasper, and Max,” saying it out loud sounded kinda silly, but we were each other’s family.

“Awe, Harp. I love that idea, I can’t say having dinner with that hunk of a man every week wouldn’t be incentive enough for me to agree.” She grinned and glanced at the ceiling as if she was picturing Max’s face, but let’s be honest, it wasn’t his face she was into—it was his eight-pack abs and that motorcycle. I found out later He was her ride home from the airport while I was in the hospital.

“Shut up, you barely gave him the time of day when we were all together.” I reminded her with a pointed look. I grabbed the wine tipping the bottle and letting the red liquid slide down my throat.

“Of course, a girl’s got to play hard to get. You don’t want to be too easy. "

“We both know you know nothing about being easy,” I suggested with a laugh, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

“Hey, I resent that,” she said, pretending to be offended.

“Besides, after Prestyn, I want to turn a new leaf, maybe I’ll try to be a bit harder to impress, and Whatnot? I don’t know. " She bit her lip, and then threw her hand up, dismissing the subject. There was an unfamiliar look in her eyes.

Was that fear?

“Whatever happened to him? I mean has he reached out or anything? Did he know you were leaving?” I hadn’t really found the time to chat with her about all of that, I felt like a huge asshole.

What kind of friend doesn’t at least check on her best friend’s mental health after a breakup?

Before I could get too far into my self-scolding session, I noticed a change in her demeanor. She seemed kind of, uncomfortable.

What wasn’t she telling me?

“Well, he wasn’t happy about me leaving like I did,” she nervously started picking at the carpet.

“He sent his assistant over with flowers a few times. Each time I sent them back,” she said in a low voice, completely different from the one she had been using all night.

“Did something happen?” I blurted out, not giving her enough time to get to whatever she was noticeably half-telling me.

“What is it, Aster?” I snapped unintentionally. Unable to hold back, my anxiety peeked out of nowhere.

“Promise you won’t judge me?” she looked up with pleading eyes laced with embarrassment.

Oh no Aster. What did you do?

“Of course, Aster! What the hell?”

“Okay, so while we were in London. We got drunk one night. Not like you and me drunk, like really drunk. The weird part was I didn’t think I had that much to drink, but I assumed the proof was maybe higher on the alcohol we were drinking. You know being in another country and all.” She rambled.

“Anyway, I blacked out and the next morning I woke up naked in bed with Prestyn.” she paused a moment. “Something felt off,” She raised her eyebrows like she was trying to tell me something subliminal.

“I don’t understand,” I blinked at her. She had tears in her eyes.

“I think he used my body in ways I wouldn’t normally approve of,” finally understanding what she was saying I let out a small gasp.

“When I asked him about it he laughed, he laughed Harp, and told me I could watch it on video if I had any questions. He recorded us.”

I felt so bad for her, she was mortified.

“When I got home after I visited with you and Jasper, I got several calls and texts which I mostly ignored. He started threatening to ‘accidentally’ leak our sex video to the media,” she started to sob inwardly. “You know what that will do to my parents, Harper.” She finished through shaky, uneven breaths.

My mind reeled with anger, but only long enough to remember I knew one of the most impressive computer geniuses.

“Aster, come to dinner tomorrow. Max is a wiz, he’ll take care of this. We’ll have to tell them what you just told me though,” her face paled at the idea. “Better them than your parents.” I reminded her.

“Okay,” she said nodding in agreement.

I knew there was something I didn’t like about that asshole.